A corfobation of



"Feb. 15, 1927.

J. P. ALDRICH ET AL SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed July 18, 1924 ragenta Feb 15, 1927.-

7 UNITED STATES-- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN" P. nm'mrcn AND nownnn A. MORRIS, or ronnno, onro, assreuons' ro THE" Auromrr monnme a ronnmecomrm, ofronnno, 01:10, A conronn'rron or r OHIO.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

ri inal application as Jui '18, 1924, semi no. 726,878. Divided and this application filed September 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,e13.

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism but is more particularly concerned with; devices forsecuring uniform feeding and for preventing tearingflof the sheet material during the feeding operation.

This application constitutes a division of our co ending application, Serial No. 726,678, filed July 18th, 1924.

' Objects of this vention are to provide a simple and inexpensivejdevice for maintaining an even pressure on the' sheet ma-' terial during the feeding operation; and

to provide a member for yieldingly compensating for the' unequal pulling tension in sheet feeding mechanisml' i Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

While the lnventlonln its broader aspect 0 is capable of embodiment in numerous forms,

a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic'sectional ele- 2 vation of asheet-feeding mechanism show-.

ing the relative arrangement of' the parts,

. and Figure 2'is a detail of the strip guiding means with parts broken away and in sec- 'tion.

'Itisfound in the use of the feed roll 1 of 'sheet material, such as parchment, that j shaft for preventing endwise movement thereof, and spring controlled pins carriedthe roll -is frequently'of unequal diameter. throughout its length 'or larger 'at one end than the other due to unequal winding 'so that the sheet 3 has an unequal bearing L throughout its. Width against the guide 4 when being pulled by the feed rolls 6 and .7 to unwind it from the roll 1 and that a tearing of the sheet frequently occurs due to such unequal strain.

To overcome this objectionable feature and guide 4 to accommpdate itself to cause the 4 the "pull of the sheets 3, I. mount a sheet engaging sleeve .8 on the guide rod 4 between end stops 9 on the rod. The shaft 4 is preferablyheld-stationary by setscrews 10 in suitable supports 11. Formed 1n -the guide rod 4, adjacent the end portions of the, sheet engaging sleeve 8, are recesses 12. in which yielding tension members-l3 in the form .of spring-pressed'ste'ms are disposed.

The tension members 13 in the iod are 10- pa e sea as sl 8 i p jacent rod side, the sleeve opening being,

larger than the rod for such purpose. With this-arrangement the sleeve will accommoda'te itself to any unequal strain on the opposite edge portions of'the sheetand thereby prevent tearing at the edge where the greatest strain would otherwise be present.

The sleeve 8 is free to turn on therod without effecting the action of the cushioning member 13. The member 13 constitutes 'pins which are mounted transversely in the rod 4 for longitudinal movements therein, and coiled compression springs encircle the pins within the rod sockets provided therefor-and acton the pins to normally force. them outward- 'It is to be understood that the invention pable of numerous modifications and changes without departing" from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as newand desire toseou're by Letters Patent, is: r v

Y 1. The combination with a stationary shaft of a guide sleeve loosely encircling said shaft, means at opposite ends "of said bysaid' shaft and engaging opposed portions of saidsleeve for yieldingly resisting unequal strains thereon.

2. of sheet material, a stationa In a. device for guldin'g the mpvement shaft, a guide sleeve on said shaft and of a arger diameter than the diameter of said shaft, means for preventing ndwise movement'of said shaft, and spring-controlled members socketed in said shaft and engaging opposed portions of the inside of said sleeve for accommodatimparted by ing the same to unequal strains a sheet passing thereover. 3. In .a device for' guiding the movement of sheet material, a shaft, a sleeve on said.

shaft and of-adiameter larger than that of said shaft, means for preventing endwise movement of said sleeye, and spring pressed pins carried by said shaft and engagmg the nside of aidsleeve for permittingthe s eve,

to accommodate itself to unequal strains of a sheet passing thereover.

4. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a stat-ionary guide rod, a sheet engaging sleeve encir- 5 cling said guide rod and having a diameter reater than the diameter of said 1'od, means or'preventing endwise movement of said sheet engaging sleeve, said guide rod being formed with transversely arranged sockets, 10 pins in said sockets engaging opposed portions of the inside of said sheet engaging signed our names to this specification sleeve, and coil oompression springs insaid soekets normally holding said pins outcent side of said guide rod whereby said sheet engaging sleeve accommodates itself to any unequal strain'on the opposite edge portions of a sheet.

In' testimony whereof we have, hereunto JOHN P. ALDRICH; HOWARD A. MORRIS.

wardly to space said sleeve from the adja- 1 5 

